John Brown [alias Isaac Smith] to John H. Kagi, June 30, 1859

Chambersburg, Penn., June 30, 1859.

John Henrie, Esq.

Dear Sir, — We leave here to-day for Harper's Ferry, via Hagerstown. When you get there you had best look on the hotel register for I. Smith & Sons, without making much inquiry. We shall be looking for cheap lands near the railroad in all probability. You can write I. Smith & Sons, at Harper's Ferry, should you need to do so.

Yours, in truth,

I. Smith.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 526

John Brown to John H. Kagi, June 9, 1859

Keene, N. Y., June 9, 1859.

Dear Sir, — After being delayed with sickness and other hindrances, I am so far on my way back, and hope to be in Ohio within the coming week. Will you please advise the friends all of the fact, and say to them that as soon as I do reach, I will let them know where I will be found. I have been middling successful in my business.

Yours in truth,

John Brown.

J. Henrie, Esq.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 523

John Brown to John H. Kagi, May 16, 1859

Boston, Mass., May 16, 1859.

Dear Sir, — I should have acknowledged the receipt of yours of April 2l, to Henry Thompson, together with writing-case and papers (all safe, so far as I now see), and also yours of April 27 to me, but for being badly down with the ague, — so much so as to disqualify me for everything, nearly. I have been here going on two weeks, and am getting better for two days past; but am very weak. I wish you to say to our folks, all as soon as may be, that there is scarce a doubt but that all will be set right in a very few days more, so that I can be on my way back. They must none of them think I have been slack to try and urge forward a delicate and very difficult matter. I cannot now write you a long letter, being obliged to neglect replying to others, and also to put off some very important correspondence. My reception has been everywhere most cordial and cheering.

Your friend in truth,

John Brown.

J. H. Kagi, Esq.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 522-3

John Brown to John H. Kagi, April 16, 1859

Westport, N. Y., April 16, 1859.

Dear Sir, — I am here, waiting a conveyance to take me home; have been quite prostrated almost the whole time since you left me at John's, with the difficulty in my head and ear, and with the ague in consequence. I am now some better. Had a good visit at Rochester, but did not effect much. Had a first-rate time at Peterboro'; got of Mr. Smith and others nearly one hundred and sixty dollars, and a note (which I think a good one) for two hundred and eighty-five dollars. Mr. S. wrote to Eastern friends to make up at least two thousand dollars, saying he was in for one fifth the amount, I feel encouraged to believe it will soon be done, and wish you to let our folks all round understand how the prospects are. Still, it will be some days (and it may be weeks) before I can get ready to return. I shall not be idle. If you have found my writing-case and papers, please forward them without delay, by express, to Henry Thompson, North Elba, Essex County, N. Y.

Your friend in truth,

B.

J. H. Kagi, Esq.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 522

Diary of John Brown, March 25, 1859

Wrote wife and children to write me, care of American House, Troy, N. Y. Enclosed draft for $150. J. H. Kagi, Dr.: To cash for Carpenter, five dollars. Clinton Gilroy, Esq., New London, Conn.

[Between the dates March 25 and June 18, Brown was at Peterboro' (April 11-14), at Concord (May 7-9), at Boston (May 9-June 3), and at North Elba (June 6-9).]

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 519

Diary of John Brown, June 21, 1859

Gave J. H. Kagi fifty dollars for expenses at Cleveland.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 519

Diary of John Brown, June 23, 1859

Wrote wife and children, and enclosed five dollars. Also wrote J. Henrie Kagi to inquire at Bedford for letters. If none found, he will wait.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 520

Diary of John Brown, March 10, 1859

Wrote Augustus Wattles to enclose to E. and A. King; also wrote Frederick Douglass at Detroit; also wrote W. Penn Clarke, Iowa City; also C P. Tidd. Gave Kagi $1 25.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 519

John Brown to a Friend in Tabor, Iowa, February 25, 1859

RECEPTION OF BROWN AND PARTY AT GRINNELL, IOWA, COMPARED WITH PROCEEDINGS AT TABOR.

Springtdale, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1859.

1. Whole party and teams kept for two days free of cost.

2. Sundry articles of clothing given to the captives.

3. Bread, meat, cakes, pies, etc., prepared for our journey.

4. Full houses for two nights in succession, at which meetings Brown and Kagi spoke, and were loudly cheered and fully indorsed. Three Congregational clergymen attended the meeting on Sabbath evening (notice of which was given out from the pulpit). All of them took part in justifying our course and in urging contributions in our behalf. There was no dissenting speaker present at either meeting. Mr. Grinnell spoke at length; and has since labored to procure us a free and safe conveyance to Chicago, and effected it.

5. Contributions in cash amounting to $26.50.

6. Last, but not least, public thanksgiving to Almighty God offered up by Mr. Grinnell in the behalf of the whole company for His great mercy and protecting care, with prayers for a continuance of those blessings.

As the action of Tabor friends has been published in the newspapers by some of her people (as I suppose), would not friend Gaston or some other friend give publicity to all the above?

Respectfully your friend,

John Brown.

P. S. Our reception among the Quaker friends here has been most cordial.

Yours truly,

J. B.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 488-9

John Brown's Parallels, January 1859

Trading Post, Kansas, January, 1859.

Gentlemen, — You will greatly oblige a humble friend by allowing the use of your columns while I briefly state two parallels, in my poor way.

Not one year ago eleven quiet citizens of this neighborhood, — William Robertson, William Colpetzer, Amos Hall, Austin Hall, John Campbell, Asa Snyder, Thomas Stilwell, William Hairgrove, Asa Hairgrove, Patrick Ross, and B. L. Reed, — were gathered up from their work and their homes by an armed force under one Hamilton, and without trial or opportunity to speak in their own defence were formed into line, and all but one shot, — five killed and five wounded. One fell unharmed, pretending to be dead. All were left for dead. The only crime charged against them was that of being Free-State men. Now, I inquire what action has ever, since the occurrence in May last, been taken by either the President of the United States, the Governor of Missouri, the Governor of Kansas, or any of their tools, or by any proslavery or Administration man, to ferret out and punish the perpetrators of this crime?

Now for the other parallel.¹ On Sunday, December 19, a negro man called Jim came over to the Osage settlement, from Missouri, and stated that he, together with his wife, two children, and another negro man, was to be sold within a day or two, and begged for help to get away. On Monday (the following) night, two small companies were made up to go to Missouri and forcibly liberate the live slaves, together with other slaves. One of these companies I assumed to direct. We proceeded to the place, surrounded the buildings, liberated the slaves, and also took certain property supposed to belong to the estate. We however learned before leaving that a portion of the articles we had taken belonged to a man living on the plantation as a tenant, and who was supposed to have no interest in the estate. We promptly returned to him all we had taken. We then went to another plantation, where we found five more slaves, took some property and two white men. We moved all slowly away into the Territory for some distance, and then sent the white men back, telling them to follow us as soon as they chose to do so. The other company freed one female slave, took some property, and, as I am informed, killed one white man (the master), who fought against the liberation.

Now for a comparison. Eleven persons are forcibly restored to their natural and inalienable rights, with but one man killed, and all “hell is stirred from beneath.” It is currently reported that the Governor of Missouri has made a requisition upon the Governor of Kansas for the delivery of all such as were concerned in the last named “dreadful outrage.” The Marshal of Kansas is said to be collecting a posse of Missouri (not Kansas) men at West Point, in Missouri, a little town about ten miles distant, to “enforce the laws.” All proslavery, conservative, Free-State, and dough-face men and Administration tools are filled with holy horror.

Consider the two cases, and the action of the Administration party.

Respectfully yours,

John Brown.

_______________

¹ On the back of the original draft of “Old Brown’s Parallels,” in Brown’s handwriting, is the following indorsement by him in pencil of stations on the “Underground Railroad” through Kansas:—

Raynard, Holton, Nemaha City.

Dr. Fuller, six miles. On River Road,

Martin Stowell, Mount Vernon

Smith, Walnut Creek, fifteen.

Mills and Graham (attorneys), Albany, twenty-five.

Dr. Whitenger and Sibley, Nebraska City.

Mr. Vincent, Ira Reed, Mr. Gardner.

Besides these entries appear the following: —

Teamsters, Dr. To cash each, $1.00	$2.00
Linsley, Dr. at Smith's	1.00

On the other end of the same page, —

Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J. H. Painter on note	$100.00
Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J H. Painter for saddle	10.00
Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J. H. Painter for wagon	38.10

“J. Brown paid for company: For G. Gill, $5.70; to Penree, $39.00; to Painter, $8.00; to Townsend for shoes, $1.65; to Pearce, $3.00; to Carpenter, $10.00; to Kagi, $8.00; to Carpenter for making shirts, $2.00.”

These are part of the cost of the journey, no doubt.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 481-3

Memorandum of William Hutchinson to John Brown

Bloomington.	A. Curtis	Navy Revolver.	No. 50,400
Osawatomie.	N. King	“	No. 49,860
	J. B. Way	Navy Revolver.	No. 50,966
Keokuk.	J. M. Arthur	eight revolvers with accout-rements. Numbers not taken.
Pottawatomie.	Wm. Partridge	Navy Revolver.	No. 50,410
Lawrence.	E. C. Harrington	“	No. 51,171
	A. Cutler	“	No. 50,995
Minniola.	O. A. Bassett	“	No. 51,140

The following are the numbers of others given to the “Stubs”:—

49,986	51,208	50,992	50,410	51,203	50,903	49,947	51,101
50,998	50,969	50,944	51,043	51,021	51,033	51,195	50,994
50,980	49,741	50,448	60,040	51,019	51,218	51,200	51,204
51,059	50,948		51,149	50,958	51,255

Mr. Whitman has one, and I think the others were distributed by Eldridge without taking receipts. Feeling too unwell to walk the distance, I gave up going to my sister's, and have looked up the above numbers. Sorry to hear of your ill-health. Still it is nothing unusual to hear of sickness all over the Territory. I have waited for Eldridge to act; but he has left, I think, without doing anything for you, and as soon as 1 can take the time I will make one more earnest effort for you in this place, and am sure that some can be obtained. Say to Mr. Kagi I gave the order for Parsons's gun into the hands of Mr. Lyon's family, and they promised to bring it to town, but it has not come yet. If you get any news of importance, please inform me.

Yours again,

Wm. Hutchinson.

[Upon which is the following indorsement in the handwriting of John Brown:]

“Wm. Hutchinson's letter.”

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 364-6, Sanborn notes “The date is not given, but it must be in 1857-58.”